UVa.’s aging professors could result in multiple new hire searches

UVa.’s aging professors could result in multiple new hire searches

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WTVR) – The Daily Progress reported that about 40 percent of the University of Virginia’s arts and sciences faculty could retire by the end of this decade.

School officials expect to conduct 85 searches for new science professors in the next five to seven years, which is almost half of the current 178 arts and science faculty.

Executive Vice President and Provost John Simon told the Daily Progress that he has approved 57 searches for new hires this year, which is about 6 percent of the university’s 1,000 faculty members.

Simon also said if the professors outside the medical school retired at 68, there would be 350 retirements in the next five to seven years. If professors waited to retire at 75, then there would be 160 retirements over the same time period.

The University is paying $1 million a year to keep its professors on staff, which Simon said may be more affordable long-term.